Photo credit: Jackson County Sheriff's Office 

(KNZA)--A crop duster pilot escaped serious injury after a crash landing in rural Jackson County Monday afternoon.

Jackson County Sheriff Tim Morse says the crash was reported around 12:30 p.m. in a field south of K-9 Highway, about a half-mile west of the Atchison County line, east of Whiting.

The aircraft crash-landed and caught fire. Morse says the pilot was able to get out safely and walked to a nearby farmhouse to get help.

The pilot was evaluated by Jackson County EMS at the scene but declined ambulance transport to a hospital.

Firefighters from the Netawaka and Whiting Fire Departments extinguished the blaze. The Kansas Highway Patrol also responded and is investigating the cause of the crash.